Why Britain's notoriously bad train wi-fi might soon be a thing of the past

UK rail passengers face inconsistent onboard wi-fi, with average speeds ranking 16th out of 18 major countries [1]. The government plans a £57m project to upgrade connectivity on 1,400 trains over five years [1]. A 2025 report by network testing company Ookla found the UK's average onboard wi-fi speed is 1.09 Megabits per second (Mbps), far behind leaders like Sweden at 64.58 Mbps [1]. This compares to an average maximum download speed of 285 Mbps for UK households and small businesses [1]. Currently, train wi-fi relies on 3G and 4G mobile data signals, with availability at just 50-60% [1]. Passengers like Rebecca Kendall, who uses the train for charity work, say the connection is too unstable for important video calls [1]. "I just wouldn't risk having an important video call," Kendall said [1]. Others, like teacher Caitlin Roberts, often bring books or download content in advance because the connection is insufficient for work [1]. The new government plan, to be formally announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this summer, aims to use low-earth satellite connectivity to boost availability to at least 90% and increase speeds by five to ten times [1]. The Department for Transport says the current system fails where mobile signals are absent [1]. Passengers have developed various coping strategies, from using phone hotspots to crocheting [1]. Bhaav, who often hotspots, finds the unreliable service frustrating given high ticket prices [1]. "Given the train prices, it's pretty frustrating," he said [1]. The project follows trials with operators including LNER and Great Western Railway [1].